The WHO team started investigating Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) today and visited health facilities in #Jeddah, #SaudiArabia. The team is seeking to better understand the transmission patterns of the virus and control measures. Since mid-March 2014, over 100 people have tested positive for #MERS in Jeddah area and 31 of them have died. Most infections occurred in health care facilities. 

Photos: WHO/T. Jasarevic 

So called "childhood diseases" like #measles can also affect teenagers and adults, sometimes with severe consequences such as miscarriage or death.
Don’t let measles creep up on you! Immunize!
#RUuptodate? 

Today is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work!
Around one-third of our time is spent at work, yet about 70% of workers do not have any insurance to compensate them in case of occupational diseases and injuries.
Read more about protecting workers’ health: http://goo.gl/rMQOFm

Photo credit: WHO /Olivier Asselin

Q: “Is there a vaccine against malaria?” asked P.

A: Currently there is no commercially available #malaria vaccine, despite many decades of intense research and development effort. The most advanced vaccine candidate is under clinical trial in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The clinical trial data for WHO to consider making a policy recommendation is expected to be made available to WHO in late 2014. Depending on these full phase 3 results, the first WHO policy recommendations on use may occur in 2015. More: http://goo.gl/jJ8gaJ

Photo: WHO/S. Hollyman (In #Malawi, children learn about malaria and mosquitoes at school)

Today is World Malaria Day! 
Global efforts to control and eliminate ‪#‎Malaria‬ have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000. 
Let’s save more! Know how to protect yourself from mosquitoes which carry the disease. 

#AntibioticResistance – when bacteria change and antibiotics fail – is happening right now, across the world.
It causes people to be sick for longer and increases the risk of death.
This infographic explains how you, too, can help tackle antibiotic resistance. Pass it on!

Watch how Brazil introduces human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among school girls as part of their national immunization programme. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and nearly all cases of cervical cancer can be attributed to HPV infection. Read more: http://goo.gl/lkBCtW

Since the beginning of 2014, #VietNam has reported more than 3,500 confirmed #measles infections. More than 86% of those infected have not been immunized or their vaccination status is unknown. http://goo.gl/9BWgyk 
“Immunization is critical to reducing child deaths in Viet Nam, said WHO Representative in the country, Dr Takeshi Kasai. “High vaccination coverage for measles among children in Viet Nam will prevent the disease from spreading, and will break the cyclical nature of the most recent measles cases.“

On World #Malaria Day, we have a look into how a country fights the disease. Read more: http://goo.gl/N7vVjR

Photo credit: WHO/Dr Manel Yapabandara 

“Is it possible that MMR vaccination and autism are linked?’’ – question asked by A.H. #RUuptodate

There is no evidence of a link between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism or other developmental disorders. A 1998 study which raised concerns about a possible link between MMR vaccine and autism was later found to be seriously flawed and the paper has been retracted by the journal that published it. Unfortunately, its publication lead to dropping immunization rates and subsequent disease outbreaks. You can read about this and other vaccination myths and facts here: http://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/

Photo: Mums and children in São Paulo, Brazil during Vaccination Week in the Americas. 
Credit: PAHO/WHO